Public hearing March 4 on proposed household animal law in Oneida

ONEIDA >> The public is invited to speak on a proposed local law limiting the number of cats and dogs in a single household at a public hearing March 4 at 6:30 p.m.

Common Council members filed revisions to the law at Tuesday’s council meeting. The revisions were specifically tailored to provide guidance for the number of dogs and cats at a residence and do not address the types of dogs allowed in the city, said city attorney Nadine Bell.

Revisions to the code now say residents in the inside district of the city can have four animals total at their property before being required to get a kennel permit. The four animal total can be any combination of dogs and cats; for example, it could be three dogs and one cat, or two cats and two dogs, said city clerk Sue Pulverenti.

Any more than four animals would be considered a public nuisance if a kennel permit is not obtained, city officials said.

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The code revisions do provide for litters of kittens or puppies to be kept for up to six months after their birth before they will be counted against the maximum household animal allowance.

What the city animal code does not regulate is the type of dogs deemed “dangerous dogs” by insurance companies, said Bell. Those are typically regulated by state agriculture and market law. “This law is narrowly tailored to the number of dogs and cats” allowed at residences, she said.

The revisions do not affect the outside district.

Council members also voted in favor of city comptroller Linda Pease to sell miscellaneous surplus computers and other electrical components on eBay.

Every so often when the city has equipment that is unusable, the items are placed on eBay. Sale profits are added to the miscellaneous section of the city budget, officials said.

Pease also said she would look into the possibility of the city purchasing equipment or other needed items on eBay. One problem might be that eBay purchases need to be paid up front and so there wouldn’t be time for the council to vote on purchases. Pease is investigating the possibility of city departments making “wishlists,” voting on the possible expenditures, and then making eBay purchases for equipment.

Pease said she will check to see what other municipalities do. Mayor Max Smith tabled the discussion for a future meeting.

Council members also voted in favor of:

• Signing an agreement with NYS Unified Court System for cleaning and maintenance services for the interior of the City of Oneida Justice Center.

• Advertising for bids for chemicals used at the Waste Water Treatment Plant.

• Accepting a purchase offer in the amount of $2,500 for the property located at 2480 Middle Road.

At the end of the meeting, the council entered a closed-door executive session relating to litigation the city may be involved in.

About the Author

Jolene Cleaver is a staff writer at the Oneida Dispatch. Her coverage focuses on crime, government and community events. Reach the author at jcleaver@oneidadispatch.com
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